Typical Harold Wilson head-in-the-sand approach to a crisis - and Jim Callaghan ever eager to cave in and surrender. Thank God we've seen the back of both of them.


1976 Falklands invasion warning
1976 government papers
By Dominic Casciani
BBC News

The Argentine ship Belgrano is sunk

Belgrano: Sunk during the war


British officials predicted in 1976 that Argentina would invade the Falkland Islands, according to official documents.

Papers placed in the National Archives reveal that Prime Minister Harold Wilson was warned that a conflict might be inevitable.

He was urged to restart talks with Buenos Aires to reach a deal over the South Atlantic islands.

Argentina invaded in 1982 - leading to a war that cost more than 900 lives.

In the Cabinet papers, seen for the first time, officials warn Harold Wilson that negotiations had to be restarted with Argentina - not least because the UK had few international friends over the historic dispute.

The islands are a British dependent territory, but Argentina maintains a claim to their sovereignty.

Clear warnings

In one briefing document, the then Cabinet Secretary Sir John Hunt told the prime minister that time was ebbing away.


FALKLAND ISLANDS

Map of the Falkland Islands
* Disputed since 1800s
* Argentina claims inheritance from Spanish crown
* UK claims sovereignty on administration and people

See full country profile:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/4087743.stm

"The foreign secretary's [Jim Callaghan] conclusion is that we must yield some ground and that our best source is to be prepared to discuss a lease-back arrangement with the Argentines," wrote Sir John.

"He argues that Argentina is now on a 'collision course' with us and cannot afford to back down; that there are many ways in which Argentina could act against us, including invasion of the islands... and that we are not in a position to reinforce and defend the islands as a long-term commitment.

"The alternative of standing firm and taking the consequences is accordingly not practicable."

Sir John said diplomats believed the momentum over the dispute could not be reversed and the prime minister had to take quick decisions. A military plan to retake the islands would have to be on a "major scale".

The government was debating launching a strategy aimed at locking Argentina into a long-term settlement.

The UK would share oil and fishing wealth from the area in return for postponing sovereignty talks.

Officials hoped this tactic could wrong-foot hardliners in Argentina and also provide breathing space for public opinion on all sides to soften enough to make a lease-back deal possible.

Spending

The Franks Report into the eventual war noted that as tension mounted during 1977, the government covertly sent a small naval force to the islands - but did not repeat the move when relations worsened again in 1981-2.

This has led some critics to blame prime minister Margaret Thatcher for the war, saying the decision to plan the withdrawal of the only naval vessel in the area sent the wrong signal to the military junta in Buenos Aires.

However, this same debate over military resources dogged the 1976 Labour government, show the papers.

In one document, the MoD says it would need a 5,000-strong garrison on the Falklands to defend its 1,800 inhabitants.

In another, the Foreign Office complains it does not want to spend £2m extending Port Stanley's runway.

"We would risk justifiable criticism, if anything went wrong, that we had failed to apply a proper judgement to the spending of public money," says the official.

______________________________________________

Interviewer: "Describe yourself in 12 words or less?"

Me: "Lazy."

I'm not a big Thatcher Fan, my dad was a Miner, But hell she was one tough cookie who would not take any shit when it came to our stuff at threat !!


Dave

Each and everyone of these three supposed leaders of the Labour Governments have left this country bankrupt after their term as Prime Minister. The Tory's will have a lot of sorting out when they return to office, having to borrow from the IMF because we have nothing left i.e. Post office, British Rail, etc. to sell to help fund it.

The two world wars 1&2 were considered as wins. but every war since then apart from the odd battle has been lost.

Greedy Weston and Communist governments have sold armaments to these despot countries and they are using them to kick us in the teeth.

Also if Granada is put forward as a winning result. Remember they only had a few shotguns, and they still kicked the Yanks arses, with all there modern weaponry. Yes the yanks won the day but the Grenadians put up a good fight.

I too am glad that Maggie was in power otherwise The Falklands Invasion would be the first succesful and permanent, unwanted invasion of a UK monarch's realms (different from British territories) in history. I do not think that many male politicians would have had the cojones to cock a snoot at the usual liberal establishment and our (supposed) Nato allies and demand that the invaders be thrown out.

SP,
I agree about Grenada. An interesting point about that particular clusterf**k is that the USA government did not liase with the UK government who is responsible for Grenada's defence. Quite apart from the fact that they had no REAL reason for the illegal invasion (they just did not like Cuban aid to that island group), and that an ill-trained and equipped militia actually inflicted unexpected casualties on the invaders, it showed that there is nothing "special" in UK/USA relations.

US governments are willing to shaft us when it suits - and do. The US and UK populaces are more likely to overcome natural xenophobic tendencies and find common ground and even closeness than the governments. It is about time that the British Government dropped the "special relationship" crap and admitted that our politicians have kept this myth going (whilst paying off our "war debt") too long. Meanwhile yhe US politcicians should admit that, in the long run, the UK saved thousands of US lives in WW2.

Don't hold your breath - politicians hate the truth - that is the real reason Saddo is dead (don't mourn the git).

I prefer not to respond to anonymous posts as they can cause confusion. Please, if you want to join the board, give yourself a handle. It makes life easier.

That said, I agree with the basis of your post.

Acorn
Just how much of that lovely Scots Mist have you been sipping. My name and pint of beer is glowing on that input, about the Three Stooges.

Regards old friend and have a Happy and Merry New Year.

That sentiment goes to all the board including those not posting of late.

Sorry mucker, I only noticed the Anonymous part. I blame the demerara rum myself!
A guid New Year to ane an; a'!

Davie

Tommy,

Truth be told mate neither party covered itself in glory in their (pre Invasion) treatment of the Falkland Islands. A casual browse through the Franks Report provides plenty of evidence of Governmental stupidity, myopia and outright perfidy.
regards

Jack